Tags

Ten Reasons to Love Sticky Ichthammol Ointment

Messy, smelly and downright gross, the drawing salve called ichthammol may not be your first choice for treating your horse, but you can't beat its versatility and affordability. The sticky ointment, a derivative of coal tar, reduces inflammation, draws out infection, kills germs and soothes pain.

Here are 10 uses for ichthammol:

1. Pack it around and over draining hoof punctures to draw out pus.

2. Use it to coax "gravels" (subsolar abscesses) to burst at the coronary band and then speed healing.

3. Slather it on a case of scratches, and cover the pastern with a sock or shipping boot. Within a day, the scabs come off easily and painlessly. For really crusty cases, put plastic wrap over the ichthammol to hold the heat.

4. Cover a rainrot-riddled back and rump with ichthammol to soften the scabs and kill bacterial agent. A soapy bath a few days later removes the ichthammol and loosened crusts.

5. Clear up "saddle acne" overnight with a spot of ichthammol on each "pimple."